Guided Fishing Trips on Payette Lake

Our Jet Boat Fishing Charters on Payette Lake are the premier way to experience this iconic Idaho fishery. Each charter is 100% private — no groups combined — and tailored to your fishing goals, experience level, and seasonal conditions. Whether you're chasing your first fish or looking to land a trophy lake trout, this trip delivers. We fish from a safe, custom-built jet boat equipped with padded seating, large casting decks, sonar, and gear for all target species. You'll launch minutes from downtown McCall, ID, then explore deep-water ledges, drop-offs, and underwater structure where big fish live. Techniques include trolling, vertical jigging, and casting — depending on the time of year and your preference. Common species include Lake Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat, and even Tiger Muskie. These trips are popular for families, couples, solo anglers, and serious sportsmen alike. Your Payette Lake fishing guide will adjust the day to match your skill level, and we welcome beginners with full instruction included. All gear is provided, and we encourage keeping legal fish for the table (especially kokanee). Charters are available spring through fall and book quickly during peak summer and early fall.

These focused trips are designed for anglers who want to chase Payette Lake's most reliable and rewarding species: Lake Trout and Kokanee Salmon. With a combination of trolling and jigging, we'll work productive depths based on sonar, thermoclines, and seasonal patterns. Lake Trout, often holding 80–120 feet down, are targeted using vertical jigging techniques and downriggers. These fish average 5–10 pounds, but every year we hook into double-digit lakers that peel drag and test your gear. We fish ledges, drop-offs, and rocky structure with glow jigs, spoons, and bait rigs. Kokanee Salmon school in open water and are caught trolling hoochie rigs, spinner blades, and scented corn. When you hit a pod of kokanee, the action can be fast and fun — perfect for filling a cooler or introducing friends and family to fishing. These fish are delicious and legal to keep. This trip is ideal for anglers who enjoy high catch potential and like using multiple techniques. Your McCall fishing guide will walk you through everything and help you stay dialed in throughout the trip. Peak kokanee season is May through July, with lake trout biting from ice-out to late fall.